Fastening device



June 8, 1943- P. F. RossMANN 2,321,518

FASTENING DEVICE I Filed May 23, 1941 INVENTOR BY ,5M i@ ATTORN EYPatented June 8, 1943 FASTENIN G DEVICE Peter F. Rossmann, Bualo, N. Y.,assgnor to Irving Rossi, West Orange, N. J.

Application May 23, 1941, Serial No. 394,844 I Claims.

The present invention relates to fastening devices for temporarilyassembling or clamping together perforated metal pieces, such vassheets, prior to a riveting or other operation.

In my copending patent application, Serial No. 384,461, led March 21,1941, there is described a device of this character comprisingsubstantially a retainer having a pair of spaced resilient prongs orlegs having lower ends provided with lateral protuberances or shouldersand normally urged towards each other. Said prongs are arranged formovement through the opening of a suitable support in sliding engagementwith a spreader element arranged therebetween and also held by saidsupport. In the non-use position of the device, the lower ends of theprongs are separated by said spreader and if they are caused to slidepast said spreader against the action of a spring by the aid of asuitable tool such as a plier applied to said member on the one hand andsaid support on the other hand, the lower ends will approach each otherso as to allow insertion into the aligned riveting holes of the work tobe assembled or clamped. Release of said plier will result in the prongsto move in the reverse direction, thus causing a separation thereof bysaid spreader element and engagement of the under-surface of the work tobe assembled by said protuberances, resulting in a firm clamping action.Removal of the clamping device may be effected in the same manner in areverse direction.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fastener of the abovetype which can be readily inserted and removed without the use of aspecial tool.

Another object is to provide a fastener of the above character ofsimplified construction'and which does not depend upon accuratelymachined parts for its eiciency.

These and further objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description of a preferred embodimentthereof taken with reference to the accompanying drawing forming part ofthis specification, and wherein Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectionalview of `one form of a fastening device or sheet holder embodying theimprovements of the invention, shown inserted in the work in unclampedposition,

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1 showing the device in operativeor clamped position,

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1,

, walls of the frame I0.

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4--4 of Figure 2, Figure 5 is asection taken on line5-'5' of Figure 1, and

Figure 6 is an isometric View showing the spreader element forming partofl they clamping device illustrated.

Like reference characters identify like parts in the diiierent views ofthe drawing.

In the drawing, item I0 represents a U-shaped frame or body having apair of parallel walls` or legs and a bottom portion I 0' engaging theupper of a pair of aligned perforate sheets A and B to be assembled. Apair of spaced resilient prongs or legs II and I2 forming a, retainer,having lower ends at rst bent inwardly asshown at I 3 and I 4 andfollowed bylcurved or arc-shaped extensions forming shoulders orprotuberances `I 5 and I6, are passed through a suitable opening in thebottom portion I0 in sliding engagement with a T-shaped spreader elementhaving a seat portion 2| resting against the inner faceof the bottom I0'and a spreader portion 20 at right angle thereto and projecting throughthe hole in the bottom I0. The seat portion 2I is provided with recessesas shown more clearly in Figure 6 for passing the legs or pro'ngs IllandI2.- 'Figure 3 shows the combined cross-sectional Width of the prongs II and I2 and the spreader 20 to substantially equal the width ordiameter of the holes in the sheets A and B. l

In the example shown. the prongs I I and I2 are formed by a U-shapedunitary steel wirel bent to further provide a support therefor by acircularly bent upper portion I1 and to provide acertain degree ofresiliency in the longitudinal direction of the prongs by the provisionof an-intermediate loop-shaped portion I8. A pin 2-2 is passed throughthe portion I'I and has its opposite end arranged to slide within slots23 in the The legs II and I2 are advantageously of semi-circular orsegmental cross section with their at surfaces facing each other asshown more clearly in Figure 3.

In order to move the prongs II and I2 from the inoperative position ofthe device, Figure 1, to i operative position, Figure 2, there isprovided accordingI to the present invention a toggle mechanismcomprising a channel-shaped lever 25 produced from sheet material andpivoted to a pin or shaft 26 journaled in opposite holes in the Walls ofthe frame Il). A further channel-shaped member or lconnecting link 2'Iadapted ,to nest within the lever 25 is pivoted on the one hand to thelever 25 at an intermediate point 28 thereof and on the other hand tothe pin 22 supporting the prongs II and I2. Item 30 is a stiening tubesecured to and encircling the intermediate portions of the legs I2 andI3 to prevent bulging or bending of the latter.

In use, the prongs are inserted into the aligned holes of the sheets Aand B by holding support I0 and lever 25 between the thumb and indexuntil the bottoni l0 engages the upper sheet A as shown in Figure 1.Thereupon the lever 25 is pushed upwardly in the direction of the arrowwhereby pin 22 and with it the entire structure II-I8 will be movedupwardly by the pin sliding in the slots 23 until shortly beforereaching' the dead center position the loop I8 begins to stretch in sucha manner that by further movement of the lever 25 the latter will snapinto locked position as shown in Figure 2 wherein pivot 28 has crossedthe line connecting the pivots 22 and 26. V y ends of prongs II and I2have moved towards the frame IIJ so as to become separated by thespreader 20, thus causing the shoulders or protuberances I5 and I6 toengage the underside of sheet B near the edge of the rivetinghole andresulting in a rm clamping of the sheets.

Removal of the device may be `effected in a reverse manner by returninglever 25 to the original position as will be readily understood. Inorder to lock the toggle mechanism in the nonoperative position, theprongs II and I2 may be provided with inward protuberances 3l adjacentto the pin 26 as shown in Figure 1. In the latterV case a slightresistance will be felt at the be- 'ginning and end of the levermovement. In the construction shown, 'the inner circular-shaped en'ds ofthe lever 25 engage the spreader 20, thus acting as positioning meansfor the latter..

yIt ris understood that the toggle mechanism may be omitted and theinsertion and removal of the device carried out by the aid of a suitabletool in a manner similar as described in the above 'mentioned priorapplication. In this case the construction and manufacture of the deviceshown in the copendi-ng application will be greatly'simplied. l y Y Itwill b e evident from the foregoing that the invention is not limited tothe specic construction and arrangement of parts shown and disclosedherein for illustration, but that the underlying principle of theinvention will be susceptible jof numerous modifications and variations'coming within its broader Scope Aand spirit as Ydefined in the appendedclaims. The specification and drawing are accordingly to be regarded inan illustrative rather than in a limited sense.

I claim: e

1. A fastening 'device comprising a support provided with an opening, aunitary wire member bent in U-fashion to provide a pair of resilientprongs having their lower ends urged toward each other and 1having theirupper parts bent to form resilient loops, lateral outward protuberancesat the lower ends of said prongs, a spreader arranged in relativelyfixed relation to said support `'and projectingthrough the center ofsaid opening, saidprongs being arranged to have their intermediateportions in sliding engagement with lthe opposite faces of saidspreader, the combined cross-sectional width of said prongs and saidspreader substantially conforming yto the width (jf-'said opening, andmeans for slidingly supporting said loopby said support.

2. fastening device comprising a support provided with an opening, aunitary wire member During this operation the lower -f bent in U-fashionto provide a pair of resilient prongs having their lower ends urgedtoward each other and having their upper parts bent to form resilientloops, lateral outward protuberances at the lower ends of said prongs, aspreader having a seat portion arranged in relatively Xed relation tosaid support and a spreader portion at right angle thereto projectingthrough the center of said opening, said seat portion having recessespassing said prongs in sliding engagement with the opposite faces ofsaid spreader portion, the combined cross-sectional width of said prongsand said spreader portion substantially conforming to the width ofsaidopening, and means for slidingly supporting said loop by saidsupport.

3. A fastening device comprising a support provided with an opening, aunitary Wire member bent in U-fashion to provide a pair of resilientprongs having their lower ends urged toward each other, said prongsbeing formed with shoulders near the lower ends thereof and having theirupper parts bent into resilient loops, a spreader arranged inrelativelyxed relation to said support and projecting through the centerof said opening, said prongs being arranged to have their intermediateportions in sliding engagement with the opposite faces of said spreader,the combined cross-sectional width of said prongs and said spreadersubstantially conforming to the width of said opening and means forslidingly supporting said loop by said support.

4. A fastening device comprising a support provided with an opening, aunitary wire member bent intl-fashion to provide a pair of resilientprongshaving their lower ends urged toward each other and having theirupper parts bent to vform resilient loops, lateral outward protuberancesprojecting at the lower ends of said prongs, a spreader arranged inrelative xed relation to said support and projecting through the centerof said opening, said prongs being arranged to have their intermediateportions in sliding engagement with the opposite faces of said spreader,the combined cross-sectional width of said prongs and said spreadersubstantially conforming `to the width of said opening, a pin supportingthe upper end of said member and being slidably lmounted in saidsupport.

5. A fastening device comprising a support provided with an opening, aunitary wire member bent in U-fashion to provide a pair of resilientprongs having' their lower ends urged toward each other 'and havingtheir upper parts vbent to form resilient loops, lateral outwardprotuberances at the lower ends of said prongs, a spreader arranged inrelative ilixed relation to said support and projecting through thecenter of said opening, said prongs being arranged to have theirintermediate portions in sliding engagement with the opposite faces ofsaid spreader, the combined cross-sectional width of said prongs andsaid spreader substantially conforming to the width of said opening, apin supporting said member being -Y siidably mounted in said support anda toggle mechanism for adjusting said pin in its extreme operatingposition.

6. A fastening device comprising a support provided with an opening, aunitary wire member bent in U-iashion to provide a pair of resilientprongs having their lower ends urged toward each other and having theirupper parts bent to form resilient loops, lateral outward protuberancesat the lower ends of said prongs, a spreader arranged in relatively xedrelation to said support and projectingthrough the center of saidopening, said prongs being arranged to have their intermediate portionsin sliding engagement with the opposite faces of said spreader, thecombined cross-sectional width of said prongs and said spreadersubstantially conforming to the width of said opening, a pin supportingsaid member slidably mounted in said support, a lever pivoted to saidsupport, the pivoted end of said lever'slidingly engaging said spreaderand a link having one end pivoted to said lever and having its oppositeend pivoted to said pin whereby movement of said lever towards saidsupport will cause said prongs to move into operative position with asnap action wherein the lower ends thereof are separatedrby saidspreader. i

7. A fastening device comprising a ,support provided with an opening, aunitary.- wire member bent in U-fashion to provideapair of resilientprongs having their lower ends urged toward each other and having. theirupper parts bent to form resilient loops, lateral outward protuberancesat the lower ends of said prongs, a spreader arranged in relativelyfixed relation to said support and projecting through the center of saidopening, said prongs being arranged to have their intermediate portionsin sliding engagement with the opposite faces of said spreader, thecombined cross-sectional width of said prongs and said spreadersubstantially conforming to the width of said opening, a pin supportingsaid member slidably mounted in said support, a lever pivoted to saidsupport, the pivoted end of said lever slidingly engaging said spreader,a link having one end pivoted to said lever and having its opposite endpivoted to said pin, whereby movement of said lever will cause saidprongs to move toward said support and move into operative position witha snap action wherein the lower ends thereof are separated by saidspreader, and means to lock said lever in non-operative position.

8. A fastening device comprising a support provided with an opening, amember having a pair of spaced resilient prongs having their lower fends urged toward each other, lateral outward protuberances at the lowerends of said prongs, a spreader arranged in relative fixed relation tosaid support and projecting through the center of said opening, saidprongs being arranged i to have their intermediate portions in slidingengagement with the opposite faces of said spreader, the cross-sectionalwidth of said prongs and said spreader substantially conforming to thewidth of said opening, means resiliently connecting said member to saidsupport to allow of movement of said prongs toward and away from saidsupport, a lever pivoted to said support, the pivoted end of said leverslidingly engaging said spreader, and a link having one end pivoted tosaid lever and having its opposite end pivoted to said member, wherebymovement of said lever will cause said prongs to move toward saidsupport into operative position with a snap action.

9. In a device of the character described, a body member having anopening, a U-shaped unitary wire member providing a pair of resilientprongs having shoulders and biased towards each other, a T-shaped memberhaving a cross portion resting against the inside of said body memberand a spreader portion projecting through said opening, said spreaderbeing interposed between said prongs with the combined cross sectionalarea thereof and said prongs substantially filling a pair of linkedlevers, one of said levers being lixedly pivoted to said support, andtheother lever being yieldingly pivoted tosaid wire member for clampingsaid shoulders into engagement with the outer surface of said bodymember,

10. A fastener yfor temporarily clamping together perforated sheets insuperposed relation comprising a body having a sheet engaging base"provided with an opening, a longitudinally expansible retainerprojectable Vandretractable through said opening and havinga pair ofspaced resilientlegs provided with shoulders at their outer ends andbiased towards each other, a spreader held in relatively fixed relationto said body and having a portion projecting through said openandinterposed between said legs whereby to space saidl legs apart, meansfor slidably supporting ,the inner end of 4said retainer by said body,and

means for tensioning and locking said retainer in they' retractedposition to clamp a number of sheets between said shouldersandjsaidbase.

11. A fastener for temporarily clamping together perforated sheets insuperposed relation comprising a body having a sheet engaging baseprovided with an opening, a longitudinally expansible retainerprojectable and retractable through said opening and having a pair ofspaced resilient legs provided with shoulders at their outer ends andurged towards each other, al

spreader held in relatively fixed relation to said body and having aportion projecting through said opening and interposed between said legswhereby to space said legs apart, means for longitudinally guiding theinner end of said retainer between two extreme positions to retract saidlegs inwardly of and project them outwardly of said body, and furthermeans for tensioning and locking said retainer in the retracted positionto clamp a number of sheets between said shoulders and said base.

12. A fastener for temporarily holding together perforated sheets insuperposed relation oomprising a body having a sheet engaging baseprovided with an opening equal to the sheet perforations, alongitudinally expansible retainer projectable and retractable throughsaid opening, said retainer having a pair of resilient legs providedwith shoulders at their outer ends and biased towards each other, aspreader having a cross portion held in relatively lixed relation tosaid body and a spreader portion projecting through said opening andinterposed between said opening, and a toggle mechanism comprising saidlegs whereby to space said legs apart, said legs and spreader portionhaving a combined cross sectional diameter substantially conforming tothe diameter of said opening, and means for tensioning and locking saidretainer in the retracted position to clamp a number of sheets betweensaid shoulders and said base.

13. A fastener for temporarily holding together perforated sheets insuperposed relation comprising a body having a sheet engaging baseprovided with an opening, a retainer constituted by a U-shaped wiremember projectable and retractable through said opening and havingresilient legs provided with shoulders at their outer ends and biasedtowards each other, said legs being formed with at least one transverseloop to provide a predetermined longitudinal resiliency of saidretainer, a spreader in relatively fixed relation to said body andhaving a portion interposed between said legs whereby to space said legsapart, means for slidably supporting the inner end of said retainer bysaid body, and further means ior longitudinally tensioning and 'l'l'insaid retainer retijaqted position, 'thereby to lmp a n'rnber of hsheetsbetween 'said 'sl'ioldrs and 'svlbase.` Y y 14. lA as'tener forytei-np'orvahrily holdingvtolgether perforated sheets in Vs'ixpe'rposedIrelation comprising a body having assh'et engaging basenpljovided withan opening and 'end apied to rest against one of the sheets, a retainerslidablethrou'ghusad opening and having a pair 'of resilient legs 'pro-'vided with shoulders at( their outer vends and biased towards eachother, afrernoyablespreader resting 'gwa'inst the inner side ofAsaidbase and having a portion 'projeting throu'gljisaidopening' andinterposed betweensaid legs whereby to spfae lsaid legs apart,meansinclndingnresilint c'ofnr'b'tn'g means for slidably supporting theinijnd of said retainer by said body, a' lever pivofed to said body',the pi/Otegi' 2end ofwsaid aidllv'eradbewusster.ndipivdedtosaidlastiiifentioned Ineans thereby to retrat said legs inwardly of 'saidbody upon movement of said leiter. and inw @lm ne engagement... 0laninber o I, sheetsbetween said shoulders and vsaid baSe vithasnap,action--.

l5.Y A fastener f ofr tev pora'rily clamping together perforated 'sheetsin isuperg)osecl relation Comprising labolir haviea Sheet, engaging,base proyided with ,anuopenng `a A retainer fslidable through saidopening being c'orlstzuted` by n a U-shaped1 Wire memberhavingresilientlegs biasd Vtowardseach other andV prjcyni/ idedn withshoul'dersat their outer ye'ndsv, a spreader resting against the insideofsaid base andhaving a portion projecting .through ySaid Opening and.interposedbetween said. legs wherebyto spacesaid legs apart, and.resilient locking means interposed between the innerend, of vsaid;retainer a r1d jsaidA body and adapted to maintain said spreader inbearing engagement kwith vsaid .base and to retract saidlegs inwardly ofsaid body and `clainriloa number of sheets between said shoulders andsaid base.

Perea F. ROSSMNN.

